This real-photo view shows South Main Street on a cold winter day, with a little snow in the gutters and ruts in the muddy street. A spur of The Monon Railroad tracks runs through the foreground -- the photographer was probably standing in the middle of the street with the Monon depot on his left. That's the the John T. J. Graves Building, with its canopy over the sidewalk, on the left side of the picture. The fence along the right side of the picture is papered with showbills: A little computer enhancement reveals a large poster for what appears to be a vaudeville entertainment. A large center panel advertises a performance by "Wood & Ward . . . Two Merry Tramps" and shows a collection of cartoonish characters grouped on a section of railroad track. The two flanking panels may show scenes from the production or other featured players, and the outside two panels (the right one hidden by a pole) give the date and location: "Nov. 29" is clear enough, and the words just to the left of "Nov." might be "Salem IOOF," indicating that the show would be performed in the third-floor auditorium of the Odd Fellows Building. The paper used for this print is most closely matched on the Real Photo Postcard Stamp Backs Page to design from an anonymous manufacturer dated by postmarks between 1914 and 1917. It is the same paper as that used for the next card, a view of the courthouse, as well. The may be the work of the same photographer, although that view was taken at a different time of year.    The advertising signs by the store building on the left side of the street give some help with dating the photograph. The left-hand picture above is an enlarged section of the C. U. Williams real-photo view of South Main Street, postmarked 1907. The version on the right is a section of this card, and the signs seem to considerably weathered -- which would fit with a date for the photograph in the 1914-1917 period. One last detail deserves comment. At the far right side of the picture a sign is partially visible. The business it advertises was the Overman House. The 1916-1976 History describes the Overman House as a "big rambling house . . . where furnished rooms and meals were offered to mostly permanent guests. . . ." (12/17/01) Home | The 1910s | Next card